And a statement from the European Ryder Cup Board confirmed the 34th match would be put back 12 months to September 2002, when it will be staged at the same venue.

The statement read: "The PGA of America has informed the European Ryder Cup Board that the scope of last Tuesday's tragedy is so overwhelming that it would be impossible for the United States Ryder Cup Team and officials to attend the matches this month.

"We have been placed in a position beyond our control and therefore the matches, out of necessity, have been postponed."

Michael Platts, a spokesman for the Board, revealed in the statement that next year's tournament will take place with the same teams and captains.

"The invitation for the United States team and officials to attend the 34th Ryder Cup matches has not been withdrawn but extended.

"We will now start the process of rescheduling the matches for 2002.

"It has been agreed that the matches will take place with the same captains, Sam Torrance (Europe) and Curtis Strange (United States), and the same 10 qualified players and the two wild cards as already nominated by the captains."

A statement from the USPGA added that the match had been "tentatively rescheduled for September 2002".

USPGA chief executive officer Jim Awtrey said: "We understand this is a hardship for them to reschedule the matches next year at The De Vere Belfry, but it was important to us that the matches be played and not cancelled.

"We will work with our counterparts in Europe over the next year to ensure that the 34th Ryder Cup matches are played in the spirit in which they were meant."